Pull or control box.



"R. H. COWDREY. PULL 0R CONTROL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR-23,1912. 1,140,878. I I Patented May25,1915.

V n 4 Q l H 25 W 1 I obs/WE U/MJW THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D C.

ROBERT E. cownanv, or GHICAGO, rumors.

PULL 0a CONTROL BOX.

1,140,878, airy" Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed April 8, 1912. Serial No. 689,390.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT I-I. CowDREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pull or Control Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pull or control boxes, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, in connection with safety devices for gas mains of the type shown and described in my ap plication, Serial No. 657601, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved, simple, durable and efficient device of this class, having means whereby the box may be locked against unauthorized opening and may as readily be unlocked without the use of a key.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction combination and arrangement of the several parts hereafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing, illustrating the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an improved device of this class, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, showing some of the parts in two positions. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail. Fig. 5 is a view of a detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and in the present form of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a casing which is preferably in the form of a box, havin an open side and which is constructed 0 any suitable material, preferably metal, so as to withstand heat, and may be of any desired size and figuration. In the present form of the invention, the box or casing is shown as being of a rectangular construction.

Connected with the box 10 and leading through the bottom thereof is a tubular member 11, which may be secured in position in any suitable manner, preferably by being screwed thereto. Another section 12 of a tubular member is connected by means of a sleeve or collar 13 with the protruding portion of the tubular member 11 to form a conduit in which a flexible member 14; in the form of a cable or the like is adapted to move, and this flexible member is connected at one end and at some point remote from the box 10 with a valve for controlling the gas main. The valve may be of any ordinary and well known construction which is adapted when moved in one position to close the main to prevent the escape of gas and when moved in another position to open the main to allow the gas to flow therethrough and into a building. Obviously this main may be the ordinary gas pipe which supplies the building with gas.

The flexible member 14: passes over a pulley 15 arranged in the box 10 and which pulley is rotatably mounted upon the back of the box by means of a suitable bearing 16.

In the present form of the invention, there is arranged in the box 10 an operating lever 17, which is preferably provided with an enlarged extremity 18, having an opening 19 in one end through which a pivot pin 20 passes. This pivot pin passes through spaced supports21 arranged in the box, preferably adjacent to bottom thereof, and the lower edge of one of the faces of the enlarged portion 18 is preferably rounded as at 22, so as not to interfere with the free pivotal movement of the lever. The free extremity of the flexible member 14: is connected with the lever 17 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a clamping device 23 carried by the lever so that when the lever or handle 17 is moved about its point of pivotal support 20 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, the flexible member 14 will be drawn upon so as to operate the valve in the gas main .to close the latter.

The handle or lever 17 is arranged so that it will be housed entirely within the box 10 and for this purpose a closure 24 is pro vided for the o pen side of the box. In the present form of the invention this closure is a sliding closure and is provided with a lip or extension 25 on one end which enters a keeper 26 and when in position the closure will rest against the edges of the walls of the box and will hold the handle or lever 17 in the box as shown in full lines. When the closure is removed, the handle or lever 17 may be operated as above described.

In order to hold the closure 24 in position and lock it against unauthorized removal, any suitable fastening device may be provided and which fastening device is of a fragile nature. In the present exemplification of the invention this fastening device is shown in the form of a plug or pin 27, having a head 28, the stem of which is provided with a groove 29 adjacent one end and a reduced portion 30 adjacent the headed end. is before stated, this pin may be constructed of any suitable fragile material which is suilicient to hold the cover locked under ordinary conditions but which when struck by a forcible blow will break and ermit the closure to be opened. A suitab e and efiicient material of which the pin is constructed has been found to be cast metal which may be readily broken.

The shank of the pin is adapted to pass through an enlarged opening 31 in the closure and also through an openin 32 in the enlarged portion 18 of the lever 1 and while in the present exemplification of .this invention the opening 32 is shown as being arranged transversely with respect to the opening 19, it is to be understood that this opening may be disposed in any manner. The stem of the pin 27 is of a len th to pass through the opening 31 in the c osure 24 and also through the opening 32 in the lever and to extend for some distance beyond the lever, and the groove 29 is so located that when the pin is in this osition, the roove will stand substantially ush or a slig t distance beyond one of the faces of the enlarged portion 18 of the lever. A catch 33 is provided, which is pivotally'connected to the lever and is ada ted to enter the groove 29 to lock the pin in position. A suitable and eilicicnt catch com rises a thin piece of material of substantia ly U sha ed formation which embraces the enlarge portion 18 of the lever and is pivotally connected as at 34 with the lever, so that a portion of the catch may be moved into and out of the groove 29 of the pin. An elastic member 35, such as a coil spring, may be provided for controlling thereto 1 and this elastic memper is disposed between the catch and the ever.

In use, the valve is normally adjusted to an open position so as to permit the gas to flow through the pipe and the lever 17 will be accordingly positioned, that is, within the box and in the full line position shown in Fig. 1. The closure 24 is then placed in position and the pin 27 is inserted throu h the registering openings 31, 82 in the c osure.

and in the lever. The elastic member 35 tends normally to move the catch into a position across the opening 32 so that when the pin is inserted in these registering openings the end of the pin will engage the catch an shift it against the tension of the spring 85 to move the catch out of the way to permit the pin to be inserted and when inserted will cause the catch to move into the groove which is provided in the pin 29 for that purpose and thereby lock the in against removal. Inasmuch as the catci is carried by the lever and the lever is carried by the body of the box, and the pin passes through an oiening in the closure and in the lever, it Wlll be manifest that the closure will be locked against removal or o ening. The opening 32 in the closure is o a size somewhat larger than the reduced portion 30 of the pin, and this reduced portion is arranged at the point on the stem of the pin at which it is desired to break the pin. \Vhen the parts are thus locked, all that is necessary to open the casing, to gain access to the lever 17 is to strike the head 28 of the pin a forcible blow with some implement and this will cause the stem of the pin to break at the reduced portion 30 so that the stem will clear the closure. In the present form of the invention, when the pin is thus broken the closure 24 will drop or automatically open, when access may be had to the lever. t is to be understood, however, that any form of closure may be provided and any form of controlling or operating element may be employed instead of the lever 17, according to the use to which the invention is put and the fragile pin may also be em loyed for locking the closure against unaut orized o ening.

This device 1s particularly applicable to 1941 the controlling valves of gas mains so that the valves may be operated from a convenient position, referably outside of the buildmg, so that w ion a fire occurs in a building,

the supply of gas to the building may be shut off and by bein arranged on the out side of the building, it will be manifest that the fireman or any other erson may readily open the box and shut off the supply of gas or adjust the controlling element without necessitatin the use of a special key.

The box f0 may be secured to any suitable support in any manner such as by means of fastening screws passing through the back of the box and the support.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a closure for the casing, a controlling element in the casing,

a fragile fastening device for locking the closure, said device having a portion located outside of the casing, and another portion within the casing, and means within the casing for securing the fastenin device to the said controlling element for ie fastening device against removal.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a closure for the casing, a controlling element in the casing,

a fragile fastening device for locking the we cking the V casing, a controlling element in the outside of the casing,

closure, said device having a portion located outside of the casing, and another portion within the casing, and means within the casin for securin the' fastenin device to lb 2: b

the said controlling element for locking the fastening device against removal, the fastening device being provided with a weakened outside of the casing and another portion within the casing, and a spring catch vfor securing the fragile fastening device and controlling element together to lock the said fragile fastening device against removal.

i. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a casing, a closure for the casing, a controlling element in the casing, a fragile fastening device for locking the closure, said device having a portion located outside of the casing, and another portion within the casing, said closure and controlling element having registering openings into which the stem of the said device passes, and meansfor locking the said device against removal. 1

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination; of a casing, a closure for the casing, a fragile fastening device for locking the closure, said device having a portion located and another portion Within" the casing, said closure" and controlling element having registering openings into which the stem and means for locking the said device against removal, the said device having a weakened portion.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a closure for the casing, a controlling element in the casing, a fragile fastening device for locking the closure, said device having a portion located outside of the casing and another portion within the casing, said closure and controlling element having registering openings'into. which the stem of said device passes, and means for. locking the said de vice against removal, the said device having aweakenedportion at, a point between the said controlling element and the inner face of the closure. i r 7 outside of the casing,

said closure and conof said device passes,

I WVitnesses:

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a-casing, a closure for the" casing, a controlling element in the casing, a

fragile fastening device for locking the closure, said device having a portion located and another portion within the casing, trolling element having registering openings into which the stem of said device enters, and a spring controlled catch carried by the controlling element and cooperating with the stem for locking the fastening device againstremoval.

8. In a device of the class described, a casing, a sliding gravity controlled door servingas a closure therefor and being supported by and held in closed position by a frangible fastening device, which is secured against removal within the casing and thejotherfrangible portion of which extends outside the casing for supporting the said sliding dooror closure,

one portion of In a device of theclass described, the

combination of a casing, a removable closure for the casing, a member within the casing and supported thereby, said member being provided with a perforation terminating adjacent the closure at one extremity and at its other extremity at a point accessibleonly so fromgwithin the casing, there being a reglstering opening ing when the closure is in normal closed posltion a continuation of the saidperfora-v tion of the member within the casing and terminating on the exterior of the closure, a fragile fastening device for locking the closure to the casing (comprising a pin having a shank adapted to pass through'thev opening in the closure and the perforation in the member being adapted to substanextend on the exterior of the closure, and

a device withinthe casing for securing the V device 'to the said ROBERT oowDRn have signed my J. H. JOc'HUM, Jr, CHARLES H. SEEM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, I). G. V

through the closure formtially close said opening and perforation and being provided vwith a head adapted to,

in the presence of 

